Why I suspect that a long list of vacant postions results in a good bottom line.

[oramar]

In my area (Western Pa) the nurse shortage has resulted in an increase in the overall number of nurse wanted ads but no novel or innovative approaches have shown up, as of yet anyway. A very few sign on bonuses are being offered but that is about all. No one is offering free refresher courses or full time benefits with part time work or full time pay and benefits for working 12s on weekends. The reason that it bothers me is that there are ads running which offer some very good deals to CNAs or people who are interested in becoming nurses aids. It is almost like they are sending RNs a subliminal message, the message being that we cost too much for them to put themselves out to recruit us. Interesting enough, the wages around here are as low as ever, I have sent out 12 resumes and done several interviews and I can tell you no one is responding to the shortage with increased salaries. Perhaps they are waiting for the expected upcoming reduction in the number of hospital beds in this area to produce hordes of unemployed nurses for them to bring in at low wages. Another thing, my friends who continue to work at the bedside tell me that they are suffering greatly due to the shortage but the recruiters for the most part have a very lesurely approach to recruitment. I get the feeling that those long list of vacancies are good for the bottom line.

[ckt]

I'm starting to think the same thing...all these facilities are c/o vacant nursing positions...well, why haven't salaries improved?? I'm finally starting to see some sign on bonuses being offered, but to me that's like throwing a bone. Seems like health administration just doesn't get it.

[JillR]

I have noticed the same thing around my neck of the woods. We have a few RN, LPN and CNA vacancies but the only openings that are REALLY advertised are the CNA openings.

They are cutting staff and expecting us to take on more patients without a CNA on my shift. Meanwhile telling us to just do the best we can. They refuse to close our unit when staffing becomes unsafe, which they used to do. I have taken to documenting evey little thing just to cover my butt. This is amazing.

I want out but don't think it wil be better at any other facility. The pay is no better anywhere else and staffing is even worse on other med/surg floors.

I am starting to wonder what I was thinking when I decided to go into nursing. Of course when I made that decisions, staffing was better, there were CNA's to help and they did close to admissions when it got unsafe.

I have only been out of school since Dec 99 and feel burnt out already. It is getting so bad that I wont even answer the phone on my days off.

Whats a new grad to do? We are stuck between a rock and a hard place because we need bedside experience to get a better job, but are risking our licences and pts welfare every time we punch in.

I am feeling very frustrated lately.

[oramar]

Originally posted by JillR:

.

They are cutting staff and expecting us to take on more patients without a CNA on my shift. Meanwhile telling us to just do the best we can. They refuse to close our unit when staffing becomes unsafe, which they used to do..... We are .... are risking our licences and pts welfare every time we punch in.

/B]

The sad truth is that the same administrative people who knowingly risk patient safety to increase the bottom line will haul your butt in and rake it over the coals when the inevitable mistakes occur. The system of nursing licensure that is in place in the USA is supposed to protect patients by providing a standand of care. Now it is being subverted by the greedy heads of corporations who use it to provide them with a scapegoat when the tragic consequences of their actions cause death, pain and suffering. This is exactly what is going on, believe me I know.

[This message has been edited by oramar (edited October 04, 2000).]